3 Big Things Today, Sept. 25, 2025
- Media Logic Radio
- Sep 25
- 3 min read
1. Soybean, Grain Futures Higher in Overnight Trading
Soybeans and grain futures were higher in overnight trading on some potential harvest delays and technical buying.
Rain fell yesterday in the southern and eastern Midwest with more expected in eastern areas of the region today, said Don Keeney, an agricultural meteorologist with Maxar.
“Rain in southeastern areas will slow corn (and) soybean drydown, but will improve soil moisture,” he said in a note to clients. “Maturation progresses well in northwest areas.”
Rain in the Delta the past few days also will slow crop collection, he said, though soil moisture will improve.
Nine percent of U.S. soybeans were harvested as of Sunday, up from 5% a week earlier and on par with the prior five-year average, the USDA said. The U.S. corn harvest was 11% complete at the start of the week versus 7% seven days earlier, and steady with the average for this time of year.
About 61% of the soybean crop was in good or excellent condition at the start of the week, down from 63% a week earlier, USDA said. Some 66% of U.S. corn earned top ratings, down a percentage point.
Soybean futures for November delivery rose 6¼¢ to $10.15¼ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soymeal added 70¢ to $276.80 a short ton and soybean oil futures gained 0.56¢ to 50.4¢ a pound.
Corn futures rose 2¼¢ to $4.26½ a bushel.
Wheat futures for December delivery added 2½¢ to $5.22 a bushel. Kansas City futures were up 2½¢ to $5.09¼ a bushel.
2. Ethanol Production Falls to Lowest in Four Months
Ethanol output dropped to a four-month low while inventories increased, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.
Production fell to an average of 1.024 million barrels a day in the week that ended on Sept. 19, the agency said.
That’s down from 1.055 million barrels the week prior and the lowest level since May 9.
In the Midwest, by far the biggest producing region, production fell to an average of 964,000 barrels a day from 997,000 barrels the previous week, EIA said. That’s also the lowest in four months.
That was the entirety of the declines as Gulf Coast production was unchanged week to week at 26,000 barrels a day, Rocky Mountain output was steady at 11,000 barrels a day and West Coast production remained at 9,000 barrels per day for the second consecutive week.
The East Coast was the lone gainer for the week, rising to an average of 13,000 barrels per day from 12,000 barrels a week earlier.
Ethanol inventories in the seven days through Sept. 19, meanwhile, rose to 23.468 million barrels, the agency said. That’s up from 22.602 million the previous week and the largest level for stocks since Aug 1.
3. Storms Possible in Southern Illinois, Indiana
Thunderstorms are possible in parts of southern Illinois and southern Indiana into Kentucky this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
A cold front moving through the area will produce storms, though no sever weather is expected at this time, the agency said.
Further north, dense fog is expected in parts of several states including Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, NWS said.
“Areas of fog have developed across portions of eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois and could become locally dense with visibilities under a quarter mile at times,” the agency said.
